Author: pam maconaghy

St. Luke Lutheran Church
900 Maryvale Drive Cheektowaga, NY 14225-2702
716-633-6752 www.stluke-buffalo.org

We are called by God’s grace to enlighten all people in Jesus Christ

From The Pastor

December 2024

Pastor Phil Schultz
Pam Maconaghy
Editor
Email: stlukechips@yahoo.com

Worship Schedule
Sundays at 9:00 AM (Traditional)
Sundays at 11:00 AM
(Soul Celebration contemporary worship the 1st and 3rd Sundays)
Wednesdays at 7:00 PM
Holy Communion
Celebrated on the 2nd, 4th, and 5th Sundays of the month and the Wednesdays that follow.

Inside this issue:

Christmas Schedule	2
News	3-4
Calendar	6
Birthdays	7
Volunteer Schedule	7

Psalm 107:1 Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever.
For many the month of November means Thanksgiving. Now Thanksgiving is a different thing for different people. Many think of Thanksgiving as family coming in for an out-of-town or traveling to visit family. For others, it is all about the large meal, and the time together. A lot of people spend the day watching football on TV. For some, it is the beginning of the Christmas season, Black Friday/Cyber Monday shopping, decorating the house, and getting the tree. Let’s all admit it is the start of a busy time of year.
Now business at this time of year is unavoidable. But we shouldn’t let the business overtake what is important. During this time of year, with Thanksgiving, moving into Advent and Christmas, I think it’s a good time to remember the story of Mary and Martha. Now Martha was running around preoccupied with all her busy preparations while Mary just sat at Jesus’ feet and listened to Him. When Martha complained to Jesus, he told her that Mary had chosen what was best (Luke 10:38-42).
Life will be busy, that’s normal. However, as followers of Jesus, we do not have to allow the busy moments to take our focus off Christ. As we begin the celebrations of Thanksgiving, and all that is to follow, let’s remember the One to whom we are giving thanks too, Christ Jesus our Lord. As we move into Advent and Christmas, Like Martha, it can be so easy to focus on all we have to do but let us never forget what our Lord and Savior did for us. Friends don’t forget the reason for the celebration; Jesus came to rescue us from sin and death.
Serving Him with you,
Pastor Phil

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Join us for Worship this Christmas Eve and Day
Christmas Eve Tuesday, December 24th
3:00 PM Daylight Worship
5:00 PM Family Worship
10:00 PM Evening Worship.
Christmas Day, Wednesday, December 25th at
10:00 AM
(We will celebrate the Lord’s Supper in all the services)

Who to Call…
The Staff of St. Luke Lutheran Church stand ready to assist you in every way we can, and can be reached at church (716) 633-6752 Our fax number is (716)-219-1105. Our email address is secretary@stluke-buffalo.org Church office Hours M-TH 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM
MINISTRY STAFF
Pastor Phil Schultz 276-3949
Musician Susan Errett 225-2157
Office Manger Karen Baglio 633-6752
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
President Nancy Koehler 289-4453
Vice-President—Personnel Bill Dunlop 316-2244
Vice-President—Property Glenn Kilger 560-9738
Treasurer Linda Rowe 684-6236
Financial Secretary Ken Knoll 683-7274
Recording Secretary Arlene Riemer 771-3542
CHURCH COUNCIL
Spiritual Life/Congregational Care Karen Baglio 633-6752
Stewardship Fred Schmitt 686-0642
Outreach and Mission Services Kammy Ciesielski 632-2723
Christian Education/Life Anne Schultz 276-3949
Michelle Silverblatt 310-1413
Media Relations Tom Green 685-8786
BOARD OF ELDERS
Walter Grzyb 393-3670 Susanna Garofaro 688-7094
Karen Baglio 473-8556 Manfred Rieger 634-4669
Allan Riemer 771-3542 Tyler Silverblatt 380-2920
Craig Maconaghy 479-0728 Ron Connor 632-1958
OTHER CONTACTS
Address/phone corrections Karen Baglio 633-6752
Altar Care Allan Riemer 771-3542
Altar Flowers Kathy Brogan 633-6752
Bulletin Announcements Karen Baglio 633-6752
“CHIPS” Newsletter Pam Maconaghy 479-0725
Facility Maintenance Ed Loeffler 861-6998
Facility Use (scheduling) Church Office 633-6752
Food Pantry Robin Beane 697-1440
Fund Raising Committee Fred Schmitt 686-0642
LWML Marge Albert 875-9363
Youth Group Pastor Phil 633-6752
Son Shine Committee Pastor Phil 633-6752
Sunday School Information Cinde Gross 774-0063
Thrivent Church Office 633-6752
Weekly Contributions Ken Knoll 683-7242

ONLINE GIVING
Are you interest in setting up online giving, but have some questions or perhaps need some help setting it up? Tom Green, our Media Relations Chair, is available to answer any questions or help you set up online giving.
Verse of the Month
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
~Isiah 9:6, ESV

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FOOD PANTRY NEEDS OUR HELP. In the month of November we serve the most families in our history. Below is a list of the most commonly requested items at the pantry. Please try and help out by picking up a few items to donate the next time you are shopping.
Kernel corn, cream corn, peaches, cake mixes, green beans (regular and French cut), peas, spinach, pears, peaches, fruit cocktail, pineapple chucks, tomato and chicken noodle soup, baked beans, beets, pasta sauce (regular), diced tomatoes, canned chicken, canned pasta (spaghetti O’s, ravioli), egg noodles, toilet tissue, tuna, peanut butter, grape jelly, pancake mix and syrup, Sunny D juice, tea, spaghetti, noodles, cereal, instant oatmeal.
Buffalo North Wednesday
Advent Worship
6:00 PM Dinner and 7:00 pm Worship
December 4th
Holy Cross Lutheran Church
8900 Sheridan Drive, Clarence
December 11th
St. Luke Lutheran Church
900 Maryvale Drive, Cheektowaga
December 18th
Pilgrim Lutheran Church
44 Chapel Rd, Kenmore
ADVENT WORSHIP HELP: It’s that time of year!. We will be hosting our Advent dinner on Wednesday, December 11th. So, we are leaning on our wonderful St. Luke family to help set-up, serve and clean-up, along with dessert bakers. We know what a wonderful job Rita has always done, and she taught us well. Now it’s time to take that burden off of her, and step up, Let us continue to make this a success like it has been in the past. Please check out the sign-up sheets located on the Welcome Desk.
CONGREGATIONAL BUSINESS MEETING: Sunday, December 8th at 9:45 AM. This is a very important meeting as we look at the budget for 2025 and hold an election of Trustees and Church Council. Please make every effort to attend this vital meeting. In order to allow time for this meeting, the first Sunday service will be at 8:30 am.
Our church is urgently needed to fill several Trustee and Church Council positions for 2025. Positions needing to be filled include:
Vice President of Personnel
Treasurer
Secretary
Christian Education
Media Relations
Human Care
Youth & Family
Filling these positions is crucial to the health and growth of our ministry here at St. Luke. We are blessed to be members of the St. Luke Family and that each one of us has God given talents and strengths that can be used to serve the Lord and our congregation. Please contact Pastor Phil, President Nancy Kohler or Vice President of personal Bill Dunlop, optician1979@gmail.com for more information or if you would like to volunteer for a position.
GIVING TREE: Once again we are partnering with the Maryvale School District in providing Christmas gifts for the children in need. Please write your name and phone number on the sheet and grab the corresponding letter and number tag from the tree. Please be sure to tape the tag to the wrapped gift when returning it to church. Gifts are due back to the church by Thursday, December 12th. For more information see Dale Karcher or Ellie Weiss.
KID’S CHRISTMAS PLAY: Stargazers Holy Land Tours will take place on ll take place on Sunday, December 22 at both services. We look forward to seeing our kids give the message of Christmas!
AMAZON WISHLIST: Looking for a way to support St. Luke children’s ministries this Christmas season? Our Christian Ed Team has put together an Amazon Wishlist with items needed for the Christmas Play, Sunday School, and VBS. We’ll continue to add to it over the next month. You can purchase items on Amazon and they’ll be shipped directly to us. There’s also an option to contribute any amount to a gift card that we’ll use for needed supplies. We would love to bless each of our Sunday School families with an age-appropriate children’s Bible that they can enjoy and learn from at home! You’ll see a variety of them on the registry. https://www.amazon.com/registries/gl/guest-view/ZYNUMH5TXPFA
Mark Your Calendar: On Sunday, January 12, 2025, our Annual “Kicking Off the New Year” will be held after the worship service. There will be ONE Worship Service at 10:00am followed by a luncheon and the opportunity to thank and honor our Worship Team of Greeters, Lectors, Communion Assistants, Elders, Ushers, Coffee Hour Bakers and our Worship Band, “Soul Celebration”. There will be more details coming in the January issue of “Chips” and the weekly bulletins. Mark your calendars!!
PLEASE CONSIDER: If you have an IRA that you have yet to decide where to put your Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) by the end of 2023, you might want to consider St. Luke Lutheran Church. As a 501c3 organization, St Luke is eligible to receive IRA contributions as QCD's (Qualified Charitable Distributions). If you have any questions please call teh church office
In our prayers for the Lord’s healing:
Chuck Walters
Bev Haist
Joya Palermo
Marty Palermo
Eric Loeffler
Bernadine Walters
Marilyn Kozlowski
Linda Gross (friend of Ardys Lerch),
David Beicke
Sheila (Tom Green’s sister)
Kathy Kaspryczyk (neighbor of Baglio’s)
Tammy (neighbor of the Baglios)
Judy Bogdan
Tammy Vesper
Connor Sarzyniak
Baby Augie Casas
Ron Kaun
Linda Harris
Ken Harlock
Rita Loeffler
Diana (friend of the Gross’s
Tom Martin
Cheryl and Mark Bossart
Carol Nelson
Barbara Postek
Gisela Driscoll
Family of Ron Kennuth
Brian Lagree (step brother of Kristen Taylor)
AROUND THE CIRCUT
VESPERS WORSHIP: The Sixty-sixth Christmas Candlelight Vespers Worship will take place at First Trinity (1570 Niagara Falls Boulevard Tonawanda, NY 14150) On Sunday, December 15th at 4:00 PM. Celebrate the incarnation of Jesus Christ with the Western New York community for a time of hymns, anthems, and scripture focused around the theme “Go Tell it On the Mountain.”
LIVING NATIVITY: St. Paul Clarence Center presents their Fourth Annual Living Nativity in partnership with Kelkenberg Farm.
They will be telling the Nativity Story as you have likely never seen it before. Guests will drive through several stops, and watch as the shepherds, angels, animals, and other parts of the living nativity make their way to Bethlehem. The final part of the story will require some walking, so please dress for the weather and be prepared to spend at least 30 minutes outdoors.
For more information or to order tickets go to
jesusintheclarencecenter.org

Christmas Bible Trivia

1. In the book of Matthew who told Joseph that the baby would be named Jesus?
Mary
An angel
The Magi
His parents
According to the Bible which animals were present at manger when Jesus was born?
Sheep
Cows
Donkeys
The bible never mentions animals
What was the name of the prophetess who approached Mary and Joseph in the temple and thanked God for the baby Jesus?
A. Rachael
B. Anna
C. Sarah
D. Pheobe
In the Gospel of Luke which Angel appeared to Zacharias and told him that his wife would become pregnant with John the Baptist?
A. Michael
B. Haniel
C. Gabriel
D. Azreal
According to Matthew the Magi stopped in Jerusalem to?
A. To get some rest
B. To buy the gifts for Jesus
C. To tell Herod about the Birth of Jesus
D. To find our where the Messiah was

Answer Key: B, D, B, C, D

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December 2024
St. Luke Lutheran Church—900 Maryvale Drive—Cheektowaga NY—Phone 633-6752 or 634-5560—E-mail: secretary@stluke-buffalo.org
Worship Wednesday 7p.m.—Sunday 9:00 & 11:00 a.m. Sunday School at 11AM Worship-Sundays

Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat
1 1st Sunday of / Advent / 9:00am Worship / 11:00am Worship/ Sunday School	2	3 10-2:00pm / Food Pantry / 10:00am Tole Painters / 77:30pm Recovery	4 1st Advent Worship at Holy Cross/Clarence / 6:00pm supper / 7:00pm worship / 7:00pm Worship @ St. Luke	5 / 10:00am Bible Study & Paper Cuts	6 / Office Closed	7 10-12pm / Christmas Program Practice
8 2rd Sunday of / Advent / 8:30am Worship / Congregational mtg. / 11:00am Worship/Sunday School	9	10 10-2:00pm / Food Pantry / 10:00am Tole Painters / 7:00pm Trustee mtg. / 7:30pm Recovery	11 2nd Advent Worship at St. Luke / 6:00pm supper / 7:00pm worship	12 / 10:00am Bible Study & Paper Cuts	13 / Office Closed	14 10-12pm / Christmas Program Practice
15 3rd Sunday of / Advent / 9:00am Worship / 10:10am Confirmation Class / 11:00am Worship/ Sunday School	16	17 / 10-2:00pm / Food Pantry / 10:00am Tole Painters / 7:30pm Recovery	18 2nd Advent Worship at Pilgrim (Kenmore)6:00pm supper / 7:00pm worship / 7:00pm Worship @ St. Luke	19 / 10:00am Paper Cuts	20 / Office Closed	21 9:00am / Fundraising mtg. / 10-12pm / Christmas Program Practice / Winter / begins
22 4th Sunday of Advent / 9:00am Worship / 11:00am Worship / Christmas Program / Both services	23	24 Christmas Eve / 10-2:00pm / Food Pantry / 10:00am Tole Painters / 3:00pm Worship / 5:00pm Worship / 10pm Worship	25 Christmas / 10:00am / Christmas Worship	26 / Office Closed	27 / Office Closed	28
29 1st Sunday / after Christmas / 9:00am Worship / 11:00am Worship/ Sunday School	30	31 10-2:00pm / Food Pantry / 10:00am Tole Painters / 7:30pm Recovery ?

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Smith, Ryan 12/1
Hart, Lily 12/2
Eckam, Karen 12/4
Sakilay, Stephen 12/5
Vaccaro, Sophie 12/5
Zuch, Doris 12/5
Horn, Sherry 12/6
Baglio, Paul 12/7
Malchow, Dawn 12/7
Torcasio, Samuel 12/7
Nietopski, James 12/8
Stachowski, Viola 12/8
Baranetsky, Erin 12/9
Brudz, Abigail 12/9
Gross, Cynthia 12/9
Hanel, Jean 12/11
Sakilay, Samuel 12/11
Zimmerman, Aidan 12/12
Stannard, Bianca 12/13
Kasprzyk, Andrew 12/14
Oetinger, Adam 12/14
Beane, Robin 12/16
Green, Thomas 12/16
Michael, Maximilian 12/18
Walters, Charles 12/18
Berebko, Susan 12/19
Kozlowski, Marilyn 12/20
Deitrick, Carol 12/22
Connor, Larissa 12/26
Smith, Kaeden 12/26
Brado, Susan 12/27
Boyle, Eric 12/28
Broad, William 12/28
Ruppert, Travis ` 12/28
Tarnowski, Gregory 12/28
Tarnowski, Landon 12/29
Vanaker, Leanne 12/31

	Time	Dec. 1	Dec. 8 / Voter’s Meeting	Dec.15	Dec.22 / Christmas / Program	Dec. 24 / Christmas / Eve	Dec. 25 / Christmas / Day	Dec. 29
Greeters	9:00	Chuck & Betty Walters	Skip & Pat Rohloff / 8:30AM	Paul & Karen Baglio	Linda / Rowe			Allan & Arlene Riemer
	11:00	Ed Loeffler	Louise Mallon	Ardys Lerch	Marg Albert			Nicki Tober
Lectors	9:00	Peggy Bouquin	Dee Grzyb / 8:30AM	Karen Baglio		Dee Grzyb / 3PM	Susan Garofaro / 10AM	Allan Riemer
	11:00	Soul / Celebration	Ed Loeffler	Soul Celebration		Marg Albert / 5PM / Ed Loeffler / 10PM
Elder / Comm. Assistant	9:00		Wally Grzyb / 8:30AM	Karen / Baglio	Christmas / Program	Wally Grzyb / 3PM / Tyler Silverblatt / 5PM / Craig Maconaghy / 10PM	Susan Garofaro / 10AM	Allan / Riemer
	11:00	Soul / Celebration	Susan / Garofaro			Susan Garofaro / 10AM
	9:00		Dee Grzyb / 8:30am			Dee Grzyb 3PM / Marg Albert 5PM / Ed Loeffler / 10PM	Peggy / Smith / 10AM	Kathy / Brogan
	11:00		Ed Loeffler
Counters		Linda Rowe / Ken Knoll	Linda Rowe / Ken Knoll	Linda Rowe / Ken Knoll	Linda Rowe / Ken Knoll			Linda Rowe / Ken Knoll
Ushers		Glenn Kilger / Skip Rohloff / ********* / Ardys Lerch / Joe DiGiacomo	Skip Rohloff / Ken Knoll / ********** / Tom Nelson Don Becker	John & Cinde Gross / ********** / Louise Mallon Diane Palermo	Glenn Kilger, / Ken Knoll / Karen Machnica, Rita Loeffler	Manfred Rieger, Ken Knoll 3PM / Manfred Rieger, Rich Taylor, Charlie Silverblatt, Glenn Kilger 5PM / Don & Virginia Becker 10PM	Don Becker, Ken Knoll / 10AM	Glenn Kilger, / Ken Knoll / Diane Palermo, Louise Mallon

St. Luke Lutheran Church

900 Maryvale Drive Cheektowaga, NY 14225

Phone: 716-633-6752 Fax: 716-635-0718
Email: secretary@stluke-buffalo.org

U.S. Postage
PAID
Non-Profit Org.
Permit #644
Buffalo, NY

Address Service Requested